23. The Sphere of Woman’s Work

The Quran recounts the story of Prophet Moses in detail. One part of this story describes how, due to certain circumstances, he was forced to leave Egypt and head towards Midian. Along the way, he encountered the following scene:

“When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found around it a group of men watering their flocks, and he saw two women standing apart from them, who were holding back their flocks, so he asked, ‘What is the matter with you?’ They replied, ‘We cannot draw water until the shepherds take away their sheep. Our father is a very old man.’ So Moses watered their flocks for them; and returned into the shade and prayed, ‘Lord, I am truly in need of whatever blessing You may send down for me,’ and then one of the two women came walking shyly up to him and said, ‘My father is asking you to come so that he may reward you for watering our flocks for us.’ When Moses came to their father and gave him an account of himself, he said: ‘Don’t be afraid! You have escaped from those wrongdoing people.’ One of the girls said, ‘Father, hire him! For the best man to hire is someone strong and trustworthy.’” (Quran, 28:23-26)

These two women were believers—daughters of a righteous elder from the Israelites—and at that time, they were unmarried. Their family’s livelihood depended on herding livestock. Every morning, they took their sheep out to graze, watered them in the evening, and brought them back home. They also managed other responsibilities of the family.

This incident demonstrates that in God’s religion, women are allowed to work outside the home. There are no restrictions on them in this regard, as long as they follow the moral boundaries set by divine law. Women should not engage in work with moral laxity or disregard for propriety, but within the necessary limits and restraints, they may perform their duties and contribute productively to society.